Fireplace heater



April 16, 1935. G. G. BROWN 1,998,427

FIREPLACE HEATER Original Filed Nov. 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 #75 Z6 2/77 27 25 /4 76' {d [vr a f firozwz/ Ale? a; 1 Y I/ 111/ V A florney A ril' 16,1935. G. G. BROWN 1,998,427

- FIREPLACE HEATER Original Filed Nov. 13, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,a faye fifiroawz w Ki 1 A Home y Patented Apr. 16, 1935 ATE menace msnraa George G. Browm Washington, D.. C.

, Application November 13, 1931, Serial No. 574,868 Renewed September 11, 1934 1 semis. (Cl. 219-34) This invention relates to' flrepl acesand more particularly to heating meanstherefor and has for its primary object to provide; in a manneras hereinafter set forth, a fir place heater embody- 5 ing a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby either gas or electricity may be utilized as a source. of heat, the invention further including means whereby the heater may be expeditiously adjusted for use with'either heating 10 medium. c i t Another important object of the invention is to providea fireplace heater of the aforementioned character embodying means for producing the illusion of anelectric heater when, in fact, the

gasrheater is being used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fireplace heater of the charactemdescribed,

which includes illuminating means for produc- X ing the appearance of an electric heater, when neither the electric heating means or the gas heating means is in use.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a fireplace heater which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, efficient and reliable in use and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost. All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of the invention may become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the. several views, and. wherein:'

Figure 1 is a view principally in front elevacal ing a. heating device in accordance with this invention mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure '1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.1ooking downward1y,as indicated by the arrows- I Figure 4 is a detail view in rear elevation showing several of the connected shiftable electric heating units.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view in vertical section showing the means for closing. the ch:- 50 cult to the electric heatingelements or resistance wires when the electric heating device is moved inoperative position. I g 6 1s a vertical sectional view through a the reduced end portions of the electric heating unit in'whichtheconductor wires to which the tion and partly broked away of a fireplace show electric heating elements are attached or dis- Pl'gure '1 is a vertical sectional view takensubstantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 6 looking in the direction by the arrows.

Figure 8 is a detail view in vertical section through one of electric heating elements.

Referring to the drawings in detail, itwill'be' seen that the referencenumeial I designates the' fireplace opening or recess in the wall [all of 10 the walls 02! the fireplace being provided with a metallic lining I. The vertical side'walls ot the fireplace are further provided with the rear refractory lining slabs or sections 4 and the outwardl y diverging front refractory lining slabs or sections 5. 'If desired, the refractory lining on the vertical side walls ofthe "fireplace or opening maybe of single pieces of] material. A suita'bledeeorative frame 6 extends around the mouth of the fireplaceand said fireplace is i'urth'er provided with a hearth T. g g

A base 8 oisui'tatble'mateiia'l'ismounted transversely' in the bottom of the fireplace adjacent the rear'wall thereof and'rigidly mounted on said base is an upwardly and'outwardly inclined radi-- ant support 9' which terminates in spaced relatlon from the upper wall of the fireplace. As illustrated .to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawings, the vertical marginal portions or the radiant support sare disposed invertical channels protherefor in the refractory lining on the verticaI-sides of the fireplace. A flue ll commu'ni-i cates' with the ofthe fireplace at "a point for wardly of the verticalplane oi radiant support 9 anda deflector H extends from the upper 35 end of the radiant support to the mouth of the flue [I todirect the products of combustion thereinto and also-to direct the heatoutwardly into the room from the fireplace. The deflector H is provided with. a transverse slot or opening I2,

the purpose 0! which will be more fully hereinafter set forth. The forward or outer side of the radiant support 9 has formed integrally thereon a plurality oi 'protuberances I 3 which are adapted to be heated by the flame from a gas burner to be presently referred to'to increase the radiation of the heat from said burner in a conventional manner. 7 I

Substantially inverted U-shaped channel guides are embedded in the refractory lining on the vertical sides of the fireplace, said guides extending through the ends of the slot or opening I! in the deflector II and having their sideportions disposed onopposite sides or'to the Iront'and rear of the radiant support Q. Mounted for travel in the guides i4 is an electric heating device designated generally by the reference numeral I5 and comprising a plurality of sections l6 of heat resisting insulating material which are connected together through the medium of flexible strips H. In lieu of the flexible strips [1, the sections IS may be secured together by suitable hinges. The end portions of the sections [6 are reduced as at !8 to fit slidably in the guides l4, said reduced end portions being slightly curved or arcuated as best seen in Figure 6 to facilitate the travel of the sections over the upper portions of the guides 14.

As illustrated to advantage in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the reduced portions [8 at one end of the sections R6 are vertically recessed, as at 19, for the reception of the current conducting wires 23 and 2!. A coiled resistance Wire 22 is embedded in one side of each of the sections 46 and has one end electrically connected with the wire and its other end electrically connected with the wire 2!. As clearly seen in Figure l of the drawings, the resistance wires 22 are disposed on the sections l6 substantially in the form of a horizontal U. Each of the sections I6 is provided with a transverse series of slots or windows 23 and mounted transversely on each of the sections IS on the sides thereof opposite to the sides on which the resistance wires 22 are mounted are the coiled wires 24 which are formed of a material which becomes red hot at a comparatively low temperature. The coiled wires 24 extend longitudinally over the slots or windows 23. As seen in Figure 8 of the drawings, a transparent plate of mica or the like 25 may be disposed in the slots or windows 23 and said transparent plate may be suitably colored if desired, the plates being preferably colored red. It may be well to here state that the sides of the sections [5 upon which the coiled wires are mounted are concaved, as clearly seen in the drawings. It may be well to also call attention to the fact that the conductor wires 20 and 2| are waved or convolutedat the portions thereof which extend between the adjacent sections l6, as indicated at 25 (see Figure 6) to permit the sections IE to swing relative to each other when traveling on the upper armate portions of the guides [4. As will be apparent, the waved or convoluted portions 25 will yield when the sections l6 swing relative to each other.

A bar 26 of .a material similar to the material of which the sections it are formed is secured to one end of the flexible strips l1 and is spaced from the adjacent end section I6 in a manner to provide a draft opening 21 by the spacing blocks 28 which are also secured to the flexible strips 91. Suitable handles 29 are mounted on the spacing blocks 28 for moving the electric heating device to operative and inoperative position. One of the spacing blocks 28 and one end of the bar 28 are recessed for the passage of the conductor wires 28 and 2|, as clearly seen in Figure 5 of the drawings and disposed on the lower ends of the conductor wires 20 and 2! when the heating device i5 is in operative position are sockets 30 for the reception of the contact posts 3! which are mounted in vertical position on an insulating support or base 32 in a suitable housing 33 and to which contact posts the conductor wires 34 are electrically connected. The adjacent end portion of the bar 26 is engageable for rest on the upper end of the housing 33 and the other end portion of the bar 23 is engageable for rest on a bar 35 (see Figure 2) which is mounted transversely in the bottom of the fireplace forwardly of the base 8 and which has one end spaced from the housing 33.

An end bar 36 is secured to the end portions of the flexible strips l! which are remote from the bar 26 and said bar 35 is spaced from the adjacent end section l6 by spacing blocks 31 which are also secured to the flexible strips 11 and which provide an opening for the passage of the products of combustion and heat when the electric heating device is in operative position but not in use and when the gas burner is in use. This is best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

An ornamental shield 38 is mounted transversely in the fireplace which has its top disposed substantially fiush with the upper edge or side of the bar 26 when the electric heating device 15 is in operative position. The shield 38 constitutes a housing or casing for the burnner control valves to be presently referred to and said housing or casing is provided with the hinged horizontally swingable doors 39 whereby access to the interior of the housing or casing may be had for the purpose of manipulating the gas control valves or for other purposes. A gas burner 43 is mounted transversely on the base 8 forwardly of the radiant support 9 and the jets of said burner 40 are positioned to direct the flame upwardly against the inclined radiant support 9 and the protuberances I 3 in a manner to heat said protuberances to a red heat. The burner M is mounted on the burner 40 and the jets thereof are positioned to direct the flame against the rear sides of the sections 16 of the electric heating device l5 when said electric heating device is in operative position in a manner to heat the coiled wires 24 to a red heat. Fuel to the burners 40 and 4! is supplied from a suitable source and control valves 42 and 43 are provided for said burners, respectively. As clearly seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, the valves 42 and 43 are disposed in the housing or casing l3 where the same can be conveniently operated by opening one of the doors 39.

Incandescent light bulbs 44 are countersunk in the refractory lining on the vertical sides of the fireplace at a point between the radiant sup port 9 and the electric heating device l5 when said electric heating device is in operative position. The incandescent light bulbs 44 are preferably located in the lower portion of the fireplace and any desired number of the same may be provided. If desired, the bulbs 44 may be colored. The purpose of the bulbs M will be presently set forth.

In use, when the device is to be used as agas heater, the electric heating device I5 is shifted in the guides M to a position between the radiant support 9 and the rear wall of the fire place I where said electric heating device is substantially concealed from view. When the electric heating device is thus in inoperative position, the flames from the burner :8 pass up the forward or outer side of the inclined radiant support 9 and heat the protuberances 13 in the usual manner, the products of combustion passing through the opening 21 which is disposed adjacent the openings i2 when the electric heating device I5 is in inoperative position, said products of combustion being directed by the deflector H into the iiue [0.

When the electric heating device is to be used the same is moved to its operative position as illustrated to advantage in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings in which position the sockets 30 engage the posts 3| to close an electric circuit and energize the resistance wires or coils 22, said coils becoming red hot in the usual manner. It will thus be seen that an electric heater is provided.

Should it be desired to use the gas heating means and produce the illusion of an electric heater, the electric heating device is disposed in its operative position and the circuit to the posts 3| is opened by a suitable manually operable switch (not shown) which is interposed in one of the wires 34. The heater 4| is lighted and the flame therefrom brings the coiled wires 24 to a red heat and said red hot wires may be viewed through the slots or windows 23.- The burner 44 may, of course, also be used, the heat and products of combustion therefrom and also from the burner 4| passing upwardly between the bar and the adjacent end section It of the electric heating device l5. I Should it be desired to produce the illusion of an electric heater in operation and at the same time produce substantially no heat, the electric heating device [5 isdisposed in its operative position and the incandescent bulbs 44 are illuminated, the light therefrom being visible through the slots or windows 23 across which the coiled wires 24 are disposed. Obviously, a very desirable effect is produced if the plates 25 or the bulbs 44 are colored red. As will be apparent, the shield or housing 38 substantially conceals the burners 40 and 4| from view. If desired, the transparent plates 25 may be eliminated from the slots or windows 23.

It is believed that the many advantages of a fireplace heater in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is: r

1. A fireplace heater comprising, in combination, an upright radiant support disposed in the fireplace, a burner disposed in the fireplace adjacent the radiant support, substantially inverted U-shaped guides mounted in the fireplace and extending adjacent the forward and rearward faces of the radiant support, and an electric ,heating unit movable in the guides for selective disposition forwardly or rearwardly of the radiant support, said heating unit comprising a plurality of sections of heat resisting, electricity insulating material, resistance coils mounted on one side of the sections, and means for connecting the sections together for relative swinging movement therebetween, said sections each being provided with a series of windows extending therethrough, coiled wires mounted on the sides of the sections which are opposite to the sides upon which the resistance coils are mounted, said coiled wires traversing the windows, and a burner mounted in the fireplace for projecting a flame on the coiled wires in a manner to heat said coiled wires.

2. A fireplace heater comprising, in combination, a horizontally disposed base mounted transversely in the fireplace, an upright, outwardly inclined radiant support mounted rigidly on the base, substantially inverted U-shaped guides of channel-shaped cross section mounted vertically on the side walls of the fireplace and extending adjacent the front and rear faces of the radiant support, a burner mounted on the base for directing flames against the forward face of the radiant support, an electric heating unit movable in the guides for selective disposition forwardly or rearwardly of the radiantsupport, said electric heating unit comprising a plurality of sections of heat resisting electricity insulating material, said sections having reduced end portions slidable in the guides, resistance coils embedded in one side of the sections,'means for electrically connecting the resistance coils with a source of electric current supply, means for connecting the sections together for relative swinging movement, said sections each being provided with transverse windows extending therethrough, coiled wires mounted on the sections on the sides of said sections opposite to the sides thereof upon which the resistance coils are mounted, said coiled wires traversing the windows, a burner supported on the, base for directing flames against the coiled wires for heating said coiled wires.

3. A fireplace heater comprising, in combination, a horizontally disposed base mounted transversely in the fireplace, an upright, outwardly inclined radiant support mounted rigidly on the base, substantially inverted U-shaped guides of channel-shaped cross section mounted vertically on the side walls of the fireplace and extending adjacent the front and rear faces of the radiant support, a burner mounted on the base for directing flames against the forward face of the radiant support, an electric heating unit movable in the guides for selective disposition forwardly or rearwardly of the radiant support, said electric heating unit comprising a plurality of sections of heat resisting electricity insulating material, said sections having reduced end portions slidable in the guides, resistance coils embedded in one side of the sections, means for electrically connecting the resistance coils with a source of electric current supply, means for connecting the sections together for relative swinging movement, said sections each being provided with transverse windows extending therethrough, coiled wires mounted on the sections on the sides of said sections opposite to the sides thereof upon which the resistance coils are mounted, said coiled wires traversing the windows, a burner supported, on the base for directing flames against the,

coiled wires for heating said coiled wires, transparent plates disposed in the windows, and incandescent light bulbs disposed in the fireplace intermediate the radiant support and the electric heating unit when said electric heating unit is disposed forwardly of the radiant support.

GEORGE G. BROWN. 

